The Pentagon announced that BAE Systems Land and Armaments has been awarded a $579,309,813 contract by the US Army for M109A7 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 tracked ammunition carriers.

"BAE Systems Land and Armaments [of] York, Pennsylvania was awarded a $579,309,813 ...contract for M109A7 and M992A3 vehicles and fielding kits," the US Defense Department said in a release on Wednesday.

According to the Pentagon, the work will be carried out in York, Pennsylvania; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Aiken, South Carolina; Elgin, Oklahoma; and Anniston, Alabama.

Elsewhere, the statement indicated that the project is expected to span four and a half years, with an estimated completion date of January 31, 2029.

It is noteworthy that the M109A7 is the newest howitzer in BAE Systems' M109 family of vehicles and serves as the primary indirect fire support system for the Army's Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT).

This vehicle features enhanced capabilities in size, weight, power, cooling, readiness, force protection, and survivability, offering commanders a more capable and sustainable option on the battlefield.

In late January, BAE Systems announced that it had secured a $418 million contract from the US Army to produce and deliver additional sets of M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers and their companion, the M992A3 ammunition carriers.

Awarded in November 2023, the contract extends the period of performance with vehicle deliveries scheduled through 2025.